The Rugby League Conference is an official Rugby Football League competition, designed to allow clubs to arrange fixtures outside of existing competition matches.
This competition is open to all Open Age men's Rugby League teams in the UK, including any summer, winter and association teams, or sides in an education setting.
Small-sided games or plus 17-man squads are permitted in the competition where agreed between clubs.
The Rugby Football League has launched a new adult playing offer for 2018.
The competition, which will sit outside of the current existing competitions, is aimed primarily at those clubs in regions where the season runs from May to August.
The offer, known as the Rugby League Conference, will be serviced by a Rugby Football League-supported Facebook group where clubs, associations, Armed Forces units and more can sign up and then speak to other likeminded clubs and organisations to arrange fixtures.
The Rugby League Conference aims to:
Commenting on the formation of the new offer, Rugby Football League Competition Manager David Raybould said: "This competition would work outside of the regional competition calendar - it will support existing regional competitions, which should always take priority.
"To arrange fixtures, each team should contact clubs via the Facebook page and arrange details of the fixture (venue, kick off time) and, where possible, arrange a return fixture."
Potential fixtures do not have to be restricted to a Saturday - all fixtures need to be confirmed to the RFL for insurance purposes and all players need to be registered.
Playing numbers can be flexible, with teams be allowed to play more than a regular 17 match day squad.
Equally, if it ensures a game takes place, then a game can be played with less than 13 players and the RFL would be flexible to allow loaning of players.